Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area

The Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area was established by Congress in 1993 to protect North America’s largest concentration of birds of prey. The area encompasses 485,000 acres of land and houses about 800 pairs of eagles, owls and falcons. Rather than the birds being on display, the NCA is an area in which humans can view the birds’ natural habitat, nesting and hunting grounds. The area provides numerous other recreation opportunities such as boating, fishing, hunting, hiking, camping and scenic/wildlife viewing.

Economic Benefits

Active outdoor recreation is an important part of the Idaho economy. The Outdoor Industry Association has found that active outdoor recreation supports 37,000 jobs across Idaho, generates $154 million in annual state tax revenue and produces $2.2 billion annually in retail sales and services across Idaho - accounting for nearly 5 percent of gross state product. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that each year over 1.0 million people participate in hunting, fishing, and wildlife watching in Idaho contributing $923 million to the state economy. With full LWCF funding, Idaho’s outdoor recreation economy will stay strong and continue to create sustainable long-term economic growth.

LWCF Stateside Program in Idaho

The LWCF state assistance program provides matching grants to help states and local communities protect parks and recreation resources. LWCF funding has benefited nearly every county in America, supporting over 41,000 projects. From building hiking and biking trails, to improving community parks, playgrounds and ballfields, this 50:50 matching program is the primary federal investment tool to ensure that families have easy access to public, open spaces.

Over the life of the program, approximately $4 billion in LWCF grants to states has leveraged more than $7 billion in nonfederal matching funds. Please reference the National Park Service website for grants broken down per county in Idaho.

Support for LWCF Among Idaho's Members of Congress

In Congress, “Dear Colleague” letters are circulated by Members to encourage their colleagues to cosponsor, support or oppose a bill or policy. Each year when legislation is drafted to set funding levels for federal programs, supporters of LWCF will use these “Dear Colleague” letters to highlight how important this program is to themselves and their constituents. The more Members that sign on to these letters, the more likely it is that LWCF will receive strong funding.

Below is a list of all Senators and Representatives from the State of Idaho. Those with an "X" next to their name signed this year's Dear Colleague in support of strong appropriations for LWCF. Those without an "X" next to their name did not, though it is important to note that some supportive Members feel they cannot sign for various reasons. Those cases are as marked with an asterisk and a brief explanation.